For two decades, Defence Health Maintenance Limited (DHML) has stood at the forefront of healthcare delivery for Nigeria’s military community, providing access to quality medical services for serving personnel, veterans and their families. As the organisation marks its 20th anniversary on June 11, 2026, stakeholders across the defence, healthcare and public policy sectors are gathering in Abuja to celebrate a legacy of service, innovation and commitment to the welfare of the nation’s armed forces.
The anniversary celebration, themed “Strengthening Military Health Systems for Universal Health Coverage Through Evidence, Innovation, and Strategic Partnership,” is more than a commemorative event. Thus, it provides unique opportunity to reflect on two decades of transformative contributions to military healthcare and to chart a course for the future of health service delivery within Nigeria’s defence sector.
Hosted by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of DHML, Surgeon Rear Admiral Azeez Bayo Afolayan (Rtd.), the event is expected to attract senior military officers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, development partners and beneficiaries from across the country.
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), OFR, is the Special Guest of Honour at the event, while the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, MON, who also doubles as the Chairman Board of Directors DHML will chair the occasion. Their participation underscores the strategic importance of healthcare in sustaining military readiness, operational effectiveness and personnel welfare.
Established in 2005 as a specialised Health Maintenance Organisation, DHML is a coporate entity jointly owned by the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), DHML was created to provide accessible, affordable and sustainable healthcare services for military personnel, retirees and their eligible dependants. Over the years, it has evolved into one of Nigeria’s most distinctive healthcare management institution, playing a pivotal role in strengthening healthcare delivery within the military ecosystem.
From its inception, DHML has continued to pursue a clear mission: to ensure that both serving and retired military personnel and their eligible family members have access to comprehensive healthcare through an efficient and structured health insurance framework. In doing so, the organisation has maintained high standards of accountability, quality assurance and service. During a recent familiarisation visit by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Richard Pheelangwah, to the organization, the MD/CEO DHML disclosed that it currently partners with more than 935 healthcare providers (consisting of 230 military and 705 civilian) nationwide, serving a growing population of military personnel, veterans and their families. Today, DHML operates across the country through an extensive network of healthcare providers spanning primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care.
DHML impact is particularly evident in the care provided to veterans. Its record indicates that DHML currently provides healthcare coverage for more than 110,000 veterans and their dependants through a robust military-civilian healthcare network. Among its many accomplishments, DHML has distinguished itself through consistent compliance with national healthcare regulatory standards. The organisation has repeatedly earned recognition for meeting stringent accreditation requirements and maintaining quality assurance benchmarks within Nigeria’s health insurance sector.
Notably, DHML was acknowledged as the only Health Maintenance Organisation to fully satisfy all re-accreditation requirements during a major National Health Insurance Scheme assessment exercise in 2018. Such achievements have strengthened its reputation as a benchmark institution in Nigeria’s managed healthcare industry. The leadership of the military has increasingly recognized that healthcare is not merely a welfare service but a critical component of national security. A healthy and resilient military force remains essential to operational effectiveness, mission readiness and long-term strategic capability.
Health experts and defence stakeholders have consistently emphasised that the physical and mental wellbeing of military personnel directly influences operational performance. As security challenges become more complex and deployments more demanding, the need for robust and responsive healthcare systems within the defence sector has become even more imperative. This reality aligns closely with the anniversary theme, which highlights innovation, evidence-based practice and strategic partnerships as key drivers of universal health coverage within military communities.
Like many healthcare institutions globally, DHML faces challenges ranging from funding constraints to specialised healthcare access and beneficiary awareness. In response, the organisation has consistently advocated for improved funding mechanisms and stronger collaboration among stakeholders to enhance service delivery for serving personnel and veterans alike.
Recent engagements have also highlighted opportunities for expanding telemedicine services, improving healthcare logistics and deepening partnerships with tertiary healthcare institutions to ensure timely access to specialised medical care. These initiatives reflect DHML’s determination to adapt to evolving healthcare realities while remaining focused on its core mandate of protecting the health and wellbeing of Nigeria’s military community.
As DHML celebrates 20 years of dedicated service, the milestone offers an opportunity not only to celebrate past achievements but also to envision a stronger future. The organisation’s leadership under Surgeon Rear Admiral Azeez Bayo Afolayan rtd has consistently emphasised the need to strengthen military healthcare systems in alignment with Nigeria’s broader pursuit of Universal Health Coverage.
For thousands of military personnel, veterans and family members who have benefited from its services over the years, DHML’s story is one of care, commitment and continuity. It is a story of an institution that has helped safeguard those who dedicate their lives to safeguarding the nation.
As stakeholders converge at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre in Abuja to commemorate this important milestone, the celebration will serve as a reminder that behind every effective military force stands a dependable healthcare system committed to preserving the lives and wellbeing of those who serve.
Twenty years after its establishment, DHML continues to fulfil that mission strengthening lives, supporting military operational readiness and effectiveness while advancing healthcare excellence across Nigeria’s Armed Forces community.
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